A special committee was set up in the Lower House on April 26 to mainly discuss tax and social welfare reform bills, including a bill to raise the consumption tax. The political parties should have careful discussions in the committee because the bills will directly affect people's lives.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is obsessed with raising the consumption tax. Regrettably the government has not paid attention to and explained the negative effects that the tax increase will have on the economy.
Although the consumption tax is regressive, the government has not yet worked out concrete steps to alleviate the burden on low-income families in case the consumption tax is raised.